What It's Like

Vatican City is one of the most popular tourists sites in the world, let alone Rome, and staying in the area around it certainly has its perks. Known as the “Borgo,” the area is clean and safe with plenty of restaurants, cafes, and upscale shopping. The Pope holds public blessings on Wednesday mornings when he’s in town, drawing heavy crowds to the area. Don’t think twice about booking here if you’re in town to see the Holy Father, the Vatican Museum, and the Sistine Chapel. However, there is very little to do at night, and it's far from Rome’s other popular ancient monuments.

Where To Stay

The quality of hotels in the neighborhood ranges widely: It’s not uncommon for a hostel-style dive to be steps away from a high-end property. The area revolves around the Vatican, so booking as close as possible to the Holy See is will give easy access to restaurants and cafes. The area northeast of Vatican City up to the banks of the Tiber River has a good concentration of the area’s best hotel options.